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National IQ and National Productivity: The Hive Mind Across Asia

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  • Garett Jones

Abstract

A recent line of research demonstrates that cognitive skills—intelligence quotient scores, math skills, and the like—have only a modest influence on individual wages, but are strongly correlated with national outcomes. Is this largely due to human capital spillovers? This paper argues that the answer is yes. It presents four different channels through which intelligence may matter more for nations than for individuals: (i) intelligence is associated with patience and hence higher savings rates; (ii) intelligence causes cooperation; (iii) higher group intelligence opens the door to using fragile, high-value production technologies; and (iv) intelligence is associated with supporting market-oriented policies. Abundant evidence from across ADB member countries demonstrates that environmental improvements can raise cognitive skills is reviewed.

Suggested Citation

  • Garett Jones, 2011. "National IQ and National Productivity: The Hive Mind Across Asia," Asian Development Review (ADR), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 28(01), pages 51-71, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:wsi:adrxxx:v:28:y:2011:i:01:n:s011611051150003x
    DOI: 10.1142/S011611051150003X
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    Cited by:

    1. Azam, Sardor, 2017. "A cross-country empirical test of cognitive abilities and innovation nexus," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 53(C), pages 128-136.
    2. Díaz Serrano, Lluís & Sackey, Frank G., 2016. "Do political regime transitions in Africa Matter for Citizens’ Health Status," Working Papers 2072/267086, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Department of Economics.
    3. Salahodjaev, Raufhon & Azam, Sardor, 2015. "IQ and the Weight of Nations," MPRA Paper 66144, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    4. Potrafke, Niklas, 2012. "Intelligence and corruption," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 114(1), pages 109-112.
    5. Madsen, Jakob B., 2016. "Barriers to Prosperity: Parasitic and Infectious Diseases, IQ, and Economic Development," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 172-187.
    6. Salahodjaev, Raufhon & Yuldashev, Oybek, 2016. "Intelligence and greenhouse gas emissions: Introducing Intelligence Kuznets curve," MPRA Paper 68997, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    7. R. Hafer & Garett Jones, 2015. "Are entrepreneurship and cognitive skills related? Some international evidence," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 44(2), pages 283-298, February.
    8. Oasis Kodila-Tedika, 2014. "Governance and Intelligence: Empirical Analysis from African Data," Journal of African Development, African Finance and Economic Association (AFEA), vol. 16(1), pages 83-97.
    9. Mandon, Pierre Jean-Claude, 2025. "Beyond the AI Divide : A Simple Approach to Identifying Global and Local Overperformers in AI Preparedness," Policy Research Working Paper Series 11073, The World Bank.
    10. Salahodjaev, Raufhon, 2016. "Intelligence and deforestation: International data," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 20-27.
    11. Kodila-Tedika, Oasis & Mutascu, Mihai, 2014. "Tax Revenues and Intelligence: A Cross-Sectional Evidence," MPRA Paper 57581, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    12. Jones, Garett, 2012. "Cognitive skill and technology diffusion: An empirical test," Economic Systems, Elsevier, vol. 36(3), pages 444-460.
    13. repec:rza:wpaper:308 is not listed on IDEAS
    14. Isaac Kalonda-Kanyama & Oasis Kodila-Tedika, 2012. "Quality of Institutions : Does Intelligence Matter?," WORKING PAPERS SERIES IN THEORETICAL AND APPLIED ECONOMICS 201206, University of Kansas, Department of Economics, revised Apr 2012.
    15. Diaz-Serrano, Luis & Sackey, Frank Gyimah, 2016. "Do Leaders' Characteristics and Regime Transitions in Africa Matter for Citizens' Health Status?," IZA Discussion Papers 10338, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    16. Antonio Rodríguez Andrés & Raufhon Salahodjaev, 2016. "Do cognitive able societies nurture entrepreneurs?," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 36(3), pages 1453-1462.
    17. Lv, Zhike, 2017. "Intelligence and corruption: An empirical investigation in a non-linear framework," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 83-91.
    18. Athanasios Lapatinas & Anastasia Litina, 2019. "Intelligence and economic sophistication," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 57(5), pages 1731-1750, November.
    19. Burhan, Nik Ahmad Sufian & Sidek, Abdul Halim & Kurniawan, Yohan & Mohamad, Mohd Rosli, 2014. "Has Globalization Triggered Collective Impact of National Intelligence on Economic Growth?," MPRA Paper 77316, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    20. Pérez-Centeno, Víctor, 2017. ""It takes three to tango": Brain, cognition and entrepreneurial enhancement," Working Papers 02/17, Institut für Mittelstandsforschung (IfM) Bonn.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • O41 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - One, Two, and Multisector Growth Models
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity

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